Customer Reviews

Creative Bead Weaving: A Contemporary Guide to Classic Off-Loom Stitches

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you buy just one book on beading, buy this one. If you are a serious beader, buy this one first. It's practical, clear, well-written, well-designed, has precise directions to many stitches and their flat, round, and tubular versions, and is the first book to reach for when you don't understand, want to understand, or want comfort in seeing the lovingly photographed, equisite work of beadmasters.

This book has some of the clearest directions for various techniques of beadweaving that I have ever seen. The charts and diagrams are marvelous, and the projects that are included with each stitch technique range from easy for a beginner to challenging for more seasoned beaders. This is one book I would not want to do without. When somebody asks me which beading book they should buy to learn how to bead, I always recommend this one.

This book is the best book for off loom bead work. It is extremely helpful. Well written and very good instructions on each stitch covered. Not only that but wonderful projects to do to help you learn the stitch even better. I found that these projects were much more to my liking than most projects in other books. I have completed most of them and I credit this bool with helping me the most. This is a must have book especially for self teaching beaders like myself. I can't express how much this book assisted me in learning the off loom stitches. This book didn't frustrate me as most other publications that I've read did. A stellsr book deserving of 10 stars.

I'm a beginning beader, and was looking for a book full of exciting projects and easy to understand instructions. This book was exactly what I needed. Ms. Wells gives instructions for everything from basic peyote and brick stitch, to much more advanced stitches and how to combine them, which makes this book valuable for any level beader. She also included a much needed simple list of the basic tools and supplies needed to start - something that a lot of books have done more to confuse me than to help me.

The illustrations are stunning. There are examples of everything from original antique pieces, to functional purses, necklaces and baskets, to the strange and bizarre (see the naked angel for a good laugh!). The only disappointing thing that I didn't latch onto at first (granted I was a little slow on the uptake) was that there were not instructions to all these illustrations. They were just examples of the way expert bead weavers had plied their craft. Oh well, they are inspirational and give me something to aspire to someday.

There are, however, several (7, I believe) projects w/ detailed instructions - some of them are quite beautiful also.

Overall, I am very pleased to own this book, and find it enjoyable to look through periodically just for the pleasure of admiring beautiful things.

I was new to bead weaving and I kept renewing this book from the library because it was so helpful. That's when I decided to buy my own and I'm so glad I did. It's very easy to follow.

Carol Wilcox Wells has provided the beader a gem of a book. Among the beautiful photographs are easy to read schematics and simple how to directions on all of the classic off-loom stitches. With simple first time projects such as beaded earrings and easy to create necklaces, Ms. Wells has you hooked from the very beginning and leaves you wanting to jump to the intermediate and more advanced projects as fast as your little fingers can bead. Everything you could possible want on learning how to off-loom bead (peyote, brick, square, net, chain, flat and round) is contained in this glorious publication and I recommend you purchase two copies...one to keep in your library to inspire your next project and the other which you will attack like a madwoman(man). Trust me on this one, you will have this book filled with your own notes and it will be dog-earred soft from your constant use.

I thought I was a beader until I read Carol Wilcox Wells' book and looked at the inspiring photos. Through her clear instructions, helpful tips and varied projects, I learned that there is more to beading than stringing them on thread. Needlework fans, take note: you may discover a new medium in beads, one as addictive as your current favorite! I've woven several beaded gifts for friends and family since picking up Ms. Wells' book this spring, and I'd never woven a beaded work before

Creative Bead Weaving was the first book in my permanent library (I spend a lot of time at the public library.)I picked this book up because I liked the square stich. I started with loomwork, but it uses a ton of thread and is a little on the loose side when I do it. I made a selection of jewelry for myself, my husband, and my bridesmaids in my recent wedding, and I got a lot of compliments on my work. In fact, people ordered jewelry from me! I now have mastered peyote stitch and brick stitch as well, and I'm loving every minute of it. Creative Bead Weaving is an excellent reference. I refer to it again and again. My only complaint is that it doesn't talk about ending and starting new threads for all of the stiches (only some). It does force you to experiment to see what works, though. This was a very smart buy!

This was the first bead book I ever bought, recommended by bead artist Valerie Hector, and it got me on my way. Covering several of the basic bead stitches, the projects are gorgeous and will make you feel very successful when completed. The end chapter on combining stitches is a wonderful way to keep from feeling trapped with one style.

The only down side is that there are some basic bits of information not included that would have really been helpful when trying to go on your own. Still, worth having in your collection.

If you want to learn an off-loom bead stitch this book is a must! It covers peyote, brick, and square stitches - plus, right-angle weave (RAW), African helix, netting, and the Chevron chain. Additionally there is an chapter devoted to combining stitches - a truly unique chapter in bead books.

This is NOT a book of patterns! There are projects to practice each stitch, as well as, a couple in the combining stitches chapter. But there is incredible eye candy throughout the book to inspire and challenge you as you progress into beadwork.

This is a book to keep as a reference and and inspiration. My copy is getting very dog-earred but I'm not giving it up!

On a side note: I tried to learn the square stitch from another book and had all but given up. I picked up this book and square stitch is now one of my favorite stitches.